Pediatric Dentistry
Dental Care for Kids
A child’s first dental visit should be a happy, comfortable experience. When parents and children know what to expect, it helps everyone feel more relaxed and confident. Children are not usually afraid of the dentist—they are often just unsure about something new. That is why our team uses friendly, gentle, and easy-to-understand language to explain each step of the visit.
From the moment your family arrives, we work to create a warm and welcoming environment where your child feels safe and supported. Our goal is to build trust early and help your child develop positive feelings about dental care that can last a lifetime.
To help your child prepare, we have created a fun activity kit that introduces teeth and dental care in a simple, engaging way. It is designed to make your child feel more familiar with the experience and excited for their visit.
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), children should visit the dentist by their first birthday. It is important that your child's newly-erupted teeth (erupting at 6-12 months of age) receive proper dental care and benefit from proper oral hygiene habits right from the beginning.
Tooth decay is one of the most preventable dental problems. It happens when sugars left on the teeth combine with bacteria and create acids that weaken tooth enamel. Children and teens are often at greater risk because brushing and flossing habits can be inconsistent. Good daily oral care, along with regular dental visits, plays a major role in preventing cavities.
Brushing and flossing every day, eating a lower-sugar diet, and keeping up with dental checkups all help protect your child’s teeth. We recommend dental visits every six months for cleanings and exams so we can monitor your child’s oral health and catch concerns early.
Fluoride treatments are also recommended twice a year to help strengthen enamel and protect against decay. In addition, dental sealants can be placed on the chewing surfaces of back teeth to cover deep grooves where cavities commonly form. Sealants are a safe, effective way to reduce the risk of decay in hard-to-clean areas and are checked at each regular visit to make sure they remain in good condition.
As your child’s teeth come in, check them regularly for any spots, lines, or color changes that could be early signs of decay. New teeth are especially vulnerable, and sugary foods or drinks can quickly affect them. That is why it is important to help your child brush after meals and snacks. For the best protection, we recommend brushing four times a day: after breakfast, after lunch, after dinner, and before bed.
Brushing should begin as soon as the first tooth appears. For infants, use a soft-bristled toothbrush with water or a small amount of non-fluoridated toothpaste. Around age 3, you can begin using a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Be sure to supervise brushing and encourage your child to spit out the toothpaste rather than swallow it.
Making brushing fun helps children build healthy habits early. We also recommend reviewing proper brushing technique with your child so they learn how to clean all tooth surfaces well.
Flossing is another important part of good oral hygiene. Your dentist can help you determine the best time to introduce flossing based on your child’s dental development and spacing between teeth.
Your child’s first tooth usually appears between 6 and 12 months of age, and most children have all 20 primary (baby) teeth by about age 3. As teeth erupt, your child’s gums may feel tender, which can cause fussiness or irritability. To help soothe sore gums, you can gently rub them with a clean finger or a cool, damp washcloth. A teething ring may also provide comfort during this stage.
Baby teeth are gradually lost throughout childhood, and permanent teeth usually begin coming in around age 6. This process continues through the teen years and into early adulthood, with wisdom teeth often appearing later. Most adults have 28 permanent teeth, or 32 if wisdom teeth are included.
Monitoring your child’s dental development and scheduling regular dental visits helps ensure healthy growth and allows any concerns to be addressed early.
Dental Sealant Treatment
Brushing is essential, but it does not always reach every area of the mouth. Deep grooves and hard-to-clean spots can still collect plaque and bacteria, increasing the risk of tooth decay. Sealants provide added protection by covering these vulnerable areas and making them easier to keep clean.
By creating a smoother surface on the chewing areas of teeth, sealants act as an extra barrier against cavities. They are a simple and effective way to strengthen your defense against tooth decay—especially in places brushing may miss.
Dental sealants are a protective, tooth-colored coating placed in the deep grooves of the chewing surfaces of teeth. These grooves can easily trap food and plaque, making them harder to clean with brushing alone. Sealants fill in those narrow areas, creating a smoother surface that is easier to keep clean and less likely to develop cavities.
Sealants are most often placed on children’s permanent back teeth as a preventive treatment during the years when cavities are most common. In some cases, sealants may also be recommended for adults, depending on the condition of the teeth and individual cavity risk. While sealants are usually used on permanent teeth, every patient is different, and your dentist will recommend the best option based on your needs.
Sealants can last for many years and are a safe, effective way to help protect teeth from decay. In fact, some adults still have sealants placed during childhood. Sealants only work well when they remain fully intact, so they should be checked regularly. Your hygienist will examine them at each recall visit to make sure they are still protecting your teeth properly.